David Cameron and Vladimir Putin's 'shared aims' on Syria

DAVID Cameron yesterday pressed Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to help end the “appalling” bloodshed in Syria.

David Cameron and Vladimir Putin are united in their desire to end the war in Syria

Following talks the Prime Minister acknowledged the two leaders had “differing views” on how to tackle the situation.

He added: “But we share fundamental aims: to end the conflict, to stop Syria fragmenting, to let the Syrian people choose who governs them and to prevent the growth of violent extremism.”

Russia has been accused of blocking UN efforts to tighten pressure on Syria’s President Bashar Assad, whose forces are accused of slaughtering thousands of civilians.

However, earlier this week, after talks in Moscow involving Mr Putin, his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry, America and Russia said they would try to convene an international conference to find a political solution and create a transitional government in Damascus.

The pair met at Vladimir Putin's villa at Sochi, on the Black Sea coast

But we share fundamental aims: to end the conflict, to stop Syria fragmenting

Prime Minister David Cameron

Yesterday Mr Cameron became the first British leader to visit Mr Putin’s villa at Sochi, on the Black Sea coast.

Afterwards he said their discussions had been “very substantive, purposeful and useful”. The Russian President thanked his guest for their “substantive and frank” talks.

Mr Putin pointedly insisted that “Syria’s sovereignty must be protected” – reflecting Russia’s hostility to the idea of western intervention against its Syrian ally. Britain is among countries pushing for sanctions to be relaxed to allow the sending of arms to Assad’s opponents.

Mr Cameron, who is to discuss Syria with President Obama, welcomed the conference plan, adding: “We urgently have to do more for the sake of the people of Syria to break the vicious cycle that threatens to destroy Syria and threatens to export violence and extremism around the world.”